Procedural life cycle inventory of chemical products at laboratory and pilot scale: a compendium

Abstract

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is widely acknowledged by academia and industry as a key tool for promoting environmental sustainability within the field of green chemistry. However, certain barriers hinder its straightforward applicability, primarily stemming from data unavailability when the target reaction falls outside the direct or indirect control of LCA practitioners. Several methodologies have been proposed over the years to address the data gap in terms of mass, energy, catalyst, emissions, recovery, etc. These have been compiled into a compendium aimed at providing comprehensive guidance for practitioners in overcoming this challenge. This procedural life cycle inventory aims to facilitate the adoption of LCA by ensuring that key environmental steps, such as energy consumption, are not overlooked, and that mass balances are complete. The methodology is presented through a case study focusing on bio-based maleic anhydride.